Reaching a hand across the page
A new writing project I'm excited to share
It’s been a few months since I sat down to write here. Lots has happened since then. The election happened — bringing with it an outcome that, frankly, sent me into a state of rage, disappointment, and upset that I couldn’t escape by any means other than disconnecting completely from social media, news, and the world outside my little life. So, I did that. I disconnected. I meditated a lot. I went out into the woods. I tended to my little life and waited until things got a bit better, which they did. (I know that I have the utmost privilege to be able to disconnect and walk away from the horrors of the world, which I mostly see only through the news and social media. I’m grateful to have that privilege and fully recognize it.)
Many good things have happened, too. I got married. The New York Times wrote about it. Our wedding was a magical celebration that I wish I could relive every. single. day. forever. I (we) have never felt so loved, celebrated, and surrounded by supportive community than I did that night. Here’s me and my wife right after we said our vows.
After the wedding, we celebrated Thanksgiving with family, friends, friends of friends, mothers of friends… a whole motley crew. We played an adults-versus-kids pick-up soccer game as the sun went down that was the perfect capstone to the day.
I’ve been working steadily as a consultant and, as we begin the new year, will start a new job as the Director of Marketing & Communications for I AM ALS. I found this job by way of the Hummingbird Fund — a small local org raising money for ALS treatments, support, and research —which has been a consulting client of mine since I started my freelance business. As I worked for and with the founders of the Hummingbird Fund, Drs. Jim and Peggy Plews-Ogan, I watched ALS steal everything from Jim — his ability to walk, talk, and eventually breathe. He was diagnosed in late 2021, retired from pediatric medicine practice, and started the Fund. His life was dedicated to helping others and, even after his terminal diagnosis with one of the cruelest diseases there is, he continued helping others. Jim died on July 3, 2024. I know that he’s looking down and smiling on this fortuitous turn of events that’s taken me to my new role with this amazing organization. I have been transformed by this work.
Speaking of work, I’ve got a new project to share! I’ve spent the past year writing a book about badass women of Charlottesville. (!!) This book, which I’ll publish in early 2025, includes more than a dozen stories of women who are making a difference, transforming their pain into purpose, and otherwise transforming and building this amazing community of Charlottesville.
I was initially inspired by Allie Redshaw, a local chef, yoga teacher, para-climber, mom, and all around badass. Late last year, I attended a yoga retreat where Allie and her husband Ian served us as private chefs (speaking of privilege… what a freaking dream that was). At dinner one night, Allie was sharing the story of losing her right hand in a horrific kitchen accident and all that came after the amputation (including giving birth to the child she was pregnant with during the accident). Lying in savasana later that night, after hearing Allie’s story, I thought of dozens of other local women who also have incredible, brave stories to share. Women like Charlie Anne Xavier, who survived a horrific accident that burned 85% of her body, followed immediately by a nasty divorce — and is stronger today than she’s ever been. Women like the Prolyfyck Sole Systaz, seven women of color who trained for and ran their first marathon together in 2023 (Brooks Running then made a film about the women and their journey). Or Nicole Hawker, who owns and operates a nonprofit gym in Charlottesville dedicated to creating a safe space for marginalized communities to come and work on their physical (and mental) health. Or Kelly Cox, who has served as a surrogate mother to most of Charlottesville’s families and developed a breast milk sharing app that she’s hoping will transform the way women feed their babies. There are so many others…
I decided I wanted to document some of these badass women’s stories. Last year, I opened up a nomination form to my community and asked people to nominate badass women they wanted me to interview. I got dozens and dozens of nominations (and I know the nominations don’t even begin to encompass ALL the badass women in Charlottesville). And while I haven’t been able to capture the stories of all the women who were nominated, I captured some of them. I’ll be publishing my book featuring the personal stories of more than a dozen badass women of Charlottesville in just a few months. (Stay tuned for more on a book launch party and how you can get your hands on a copy!)
As I’ve met and talked with these women over the last several weeks, doing final fact-check calls and asking follow-up questions, I’ve had a chance to reflect on what a gift this project has been. And not just to me — though the joy and life this book has given me is immeasurable! Speaking with Charlie Anne this week, she told me that I have inspired and motivated her with this book project. She remembers when we first sat down to talk about the project and she couldn’t believe how much work would have to go into making it happen. She talked about wanting to write her own book one day and it feels like a real possibility now that she’s watched my process unfold. Nicole and I spoke yesterday and she similarly told me that sharing her story with me has inspired her to pursue writing her own book.
Writing the joys, dreams, traumas, challenges, and victories of these amazing women into black & white words on a page means that these stories — and these women — will live forever. There is a permanence now that perhaps didn’t exist before. I’m not special, by any means, for capturing their stories — I am just a conduit. And capturing these stories — getting to know each of them just a bit better, learning about all they have overcome and all they have to offer — has been mutually therapeutic and empowering.
I was reading Beth Kephart’s Handling the Truth last night before bed and came across these words:
Writers are in the business of attempting to expose the human condition in such a way that our description resonates in the souls of other humans.
I hope that the stories I’ll be sharing resonate in the souls of other humans, I believe they will. I can’t wait for you to read them.